Former Leaf packs his bags for Finland after being released from PTO
Drafted 10th overall in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft by the Anaheim Ducks, Nick Ritchie was expected to become a pillar for the franchise and a solid building block to join what was already a deep contending team at the time, as the Ducks were just coming off a 54-win season. Now he's out of the league and signing with Oulun Kärpät out of Finland.
Ritchie had scored 39 goals and 74 points in 61 games for the Peterborough Petes ahead of the draft and then added 29 goals and 62 points in 48 games the following season. Unfortunately he was never able to translate that same success at the NHL-level as he scored just 43 goals and 109 points in 287 games through parts of 5 seasons in Anaheim.
He was then traded at the 2020 trade deadline to Boston for Danton Heinen, where he would spend the 2 next seasons accumulating 16 goals and 28 points through 63 games.
After the 2020-21 season, he signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs on a 2-year deal that was worth $5 million dollars in total. He was brought over to replace Zach Hyman but failed to impress with just 2 goals and 9 points in 33 games before being dealt to the Arizona Coyotes - alongside a 2023 third or a 2025 second - for Ilya Lyubushkin and Ryan Dzingel ahead of the trade deadline in 2022.
He was once again dealt at the trade deadline in 2023, this time to the Calgary Flames in a deal that involved his brother, Brett Ritchie, going the other way. Nick Ritchie would then sign a professional tryout offer from the St. Louis Blues this off-season, but was released in mid-September, prompting his move to Finland to continue his professional hockey career.
Through 8 seasons, the former first round pick scored 84 goals and 186 points in 481 games with 5 different clubs. His career-best season came in 2018-19 when he tallied 31 points in 60 games. Maple Leaf fans will also remember him best from when Nick Kypreos proposed a Ritchie and Brandon Montour for William Nylander trade back in 2018-19. Of course, the trade never materialized, and just as well, given what we've seen from Nylander during his career in comparison to both Ritchie and Montour.
| POLL | ||
NOVEMBRE 28 | 387 ANSWERS Former Leaf packs his bags for Finland after being released from PTO Will Nick Ritchie ever find his way back to the NHL? | ||
| No way | 251 | 64.9 % |
| Yes. I'm sure he will | 51 | 13.2 % |
| Too soon to say | 85 | 22 % |
| List of polls | ||
